Chapter 10: The Trap – Part 1
It was late at night, already past midnight.
Dan and Heon stood at the northern edge of the formation.
The darkness was so thick they couldn’t see a hand in front of their face.
Dan moved quickly, tapping the air here and there.
Thump, thump.
After striking many times, she finally felt something different and smiled.
“Here it is. Around the hour of the Tiger (3–5am), this spot will open. A gap will appear in the formation from here to there. When it happens, don’t touch me. It’s a very delicate job.”
At last, they would escape this cursed trap.
She wanted to jump with joy—until she turned and saw Heon’s sharp eyes staring at her like a burning brand.
Dan flinched and stepped back.
“…Brother, you’re not thinking of breaking our promise, are you?”
“……”
“You know the saying one strike, two kills? If you kill me now, you might also kill the baby that could be inside me. That’s double the sin. If it’s twins, that’s triple. If triplets, then four times!”
“You really think that’s possible?”
“Of course. Even rats and dogs can give birth to five or more. My belly could already hold at least three.”
Heon tilted his head with disbelief.
Was she truly the same as a cockroach? Even cockroaches wouldn’t use unborn children as shields.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Shut that mouth before I tear it open.”
“Hehe. Then it’s a promise. You’ll spare my life. If you kill me, I’ll return as a ghost every night with the children. We’ll all haunt you, crying, Why did you kill us? Isn’t that scary?”
She was clearly afraid of dying but also believed he would spare her.
Her constant chatter about vengeful spirits gave him a headache.
Heon suddenly imagined Dan surrounded by five noisy children.
“I must be losing my mind after being trapped too long.”
As he watched her with troubled eyes, Dan suddenly dropped to the ground, exhausted.
Poking at the dirt with a twig, she looked up.
“Oh, right. Brother, I want to ask something.”
“Speak.”
“Did you see the soldier skeletons inside the stone coffins?”
“And if I did?”
“Was that… your people’s doing?”
“No connection.”
“I thought so. At first, I suspected you, but the timing didn’t match. So you came here only for the Human Shape Ginseng?”
“…Do you want it back?”
“No. I promised it to you. Still, it feels unfair. I lost so much in this tomb, and you gained everything. It’s like a failed business. From now on, I won’t even go near ancient tombs.”
She buried her face in her knees, sulking.
For some reason, Heon found the sight… almost cute.
His fingers twitched in the air before stopping when she suddenly raised her head.
“Brother, something feels strange.”
“What is it?”
“The corpses looked old, but not too old. Their bones still had rotten flesh stuck to them. Something worse than stepping on dog poop might be coming. Oh! I don’t mean you’re dog poop, brother. Haha.”
Heon frowned at her sharp tongue, but he too felt uneasy.
“Their armor bore a crest. If I recall, it was the crest of the Rapna Nashil family from the Great Yuan Empire.”
“What? The Great Yuan Empire? Rapna Nashil… such a strange family name. But if that’s true, then those bodies aren’t very old. The Yuan Empire only united ten kingdoms less than twenty years ago. Brother, do you know anything more about that family?”
“No. Just something I picked up in passing.”
“Hmm. Brother, I smell a conspiracy.”
“What do you mean?”
“This tomb is filled with strange formations. I had a hard time just getting this far. And that mermaid child in the treasure vault… She was too young to have lived a thousand years in a tomb. Even for a long-lived sea mermaid, it made no sense. It’s like someone set this place up as a trap to catch prey.”
Heon’s dark eyes gleamed coldly beneath his lashes.
Dan wanted to say more, but it was nearly time.
If they missed this chance, there was no telling when the formation would open again.
Standing up with a confident smile, she said:
“Alright, it’s time. I’ll break the formation now. Let’s hope not too much time has passed outside.”
Meanwhile…
“Prince Chungwang, good morning. Lady Ranwha, good morning.”
A blue parrot in a golden cage greeted them as they entered the study.
The beautiful woman, Ranwha, laughed softly.
“Your Highness, the bird is so rude. We gave it many chances already.”
“Foolish as it is, my father gifted it to me.”
Chungwang frowned at the parrot, then turned to her.
“But it should know its master. If it doesn’t, even a beast doesn’t deserve to live.”
“What will you do then, Ranwha?”
Chungwang’s half-closed eyes showed interest.
Ranwha smiled seductively, plucked a jeweled hairpin from her bun—
Whish!
“Squawk—!”
She stabbed the bird through. It dropped dead from the perch.
Ranwha smiled coldly.
“I’ll replace it with something smarter, Your Highness.”
“Hmm. Something more entertaining than a parrot, I hope. Maybe something I can enjoy directly.”
“They say the lizards of Jaban can change colors with their surroundings. What do you think?”
“I already played with one like that. I get bored easily. Honestly, even nights with you are losing their thrill.”
His blunt words made Ranwha’s face darken.
“You haven’t taken a new woman in some time. Shall I find one? Perhaps a lovely girl from the forest tribes?”
“Again with your sisters? They’re beauties, yes, but I’ve grown tired of forest women. What about tiger-tribe women? Fierce, but new.”
“They’re usually ugly and wild. Are you sure?”
“Even better. Taming them would be fun.”
“…As you wish, Your Highness.”
He drew close and whispered, “But remember, Ranwha, all these others are just playthings. The only one in my heart is you.”
“Yes, Your Highness…”
They clung to each other, tearing off clothes, until—
Knock knock.
“Prince, Generals Jo and Park have arrived.”
“Hah… Tell them to wait in the hall.”
“Yes, sir.”
They straightened their clothes and entered the reception room.
Generals Jo and Park bowed deeply.
“Sit. Ranwha, is this about Prince Gyeong?”
“Yes, Your Highness. At last, he’s taken the bait. General Jo, explain.”
“Lady Ranwha’s plan worked perfectly. Prince Gyeong secretly searched for a gift to present at the Emperor’s sixtieth birthday. He spread word in secret, but we planted the perfect bait.”
“…Bait?”
Jo nodded.
“Yes. A record describing the location of a 1,500-year-old Human Shape Ginseng. Said to be in Jemyeong Kingdom, not far from the Great Yuan Empire.”
Park scowled and interrupted.
“But remember, Prince Gyeong was once crown prince of a kingdom destroyed by Yuan. Yet now he serves the Emperor loyally. Will such a man die from such a simple trick?”
“Right. At only fourteen, he betrayed his father and offered his head to survive. He is cunning.”
“Yes. That is why we used the Rapna Nashil family, masters of traps and formations. We set multiple snares, even involving a mermaid child.”
“A mermaid? Perfect bait for Gyeong. But what’s the trap?”
“A special necklace was placed on the child. If she’s removed from the tank, the entire tomb will collapse.”
“Tsk. Prince Gyeong, undefeated in battle all these years… and this is your great plan?”
His anger chilled the room.
Ranwha leaned close, whispering sweetly:
“It’s a water burial, Your Highness.”
“…Water burial?”
“Yes. Mount Taeak of Jemyeong sits above rich underground water. It’s the source of the Yanghwa River. The whole tomb will flood.”
Chungwang’s lips curled cruelly.
“When Prince Gyeong dared touch my money lines, he should have prepared for this. Let him drown like a ghost in water. Haha.”
“We must reward the Rapna Nashil family greatly. They cut off their own branch to serve us.”
Chungwang roared with laughter.
“Good! When I inherit the empire from the Emperor, all my loyal followers will be rewarded.”
